Chapter 138: Ideological Re-education

Steam rose from the steamer baskets, climbing up the brick wall toward the eaves.

The deep-fried dough sticks were golden, and the tender white tofu pudding shimmered with oil droplets that formed a string of beads.

Shang Yan walked out of the school gate at a leisurely pace.

It was that same Mercedes-Benz; Fang Jingxian was leaning against the car door, with her younger brother and sister standing on either side.

She waved her hand: "Over here!"

The three siblings looked over and crossed the road.

Shang Yan pointed at the long row of restaurants: "Want to eat something?"

Fang Jingxian replied: "We've already eaten!"

Shang Yan nodded and led the three of them into the school gate.

It was just eight o'clock, but classes had already begun in every department, and there were few people on campus.

The sound of high heels clicking on the bluestone pavement was exceptionally crisp.

Fang Jingxian was somewhat distracted; she had her hands in the pockets of her trench coat, her fingernails unconsciously picking at the loose threads at the bottom of the pocket.

"What's wrong?" Shang Yan glanced at her, "You look like you've lost your soul."

"It's nothing!"

Fang Jingxian came back to her senses, her brows knitting slightly: "Do you remember the eleventh, when I went to Kaiyuan with you?"

Of course she remembered.

It was probably about a week after they had seen the Jade Guanyin at that jade shop that Fang Jingxian had slowly realized what was going on, suspecting that Yang Zhigao and that General Manager Zhao were colluding to scam her.

The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt; on the eleventh, Fang Jingxian had called Shang Yan and invited two other friends, intending to go and test the waters.

As it turned out, they had come up empty-handed?

It wasn't just that the people were gone; the shop itself had moved. During the Golden Week holiday, the most prime location on the first floor of the mall was sitting completely empty.

She had asked the nearby merchants, but they all said they didn't know; they only knew that everything had been fine the night before. But when they arrived the next day, the shop was closed, and everything had been cleared out.

Since catching a thief requires the stolen goods and catching an adulterer requires the pair, with the people gone, Fang Jingxian had no choice but to let it go.

But now, more than a week later, she was suddenly bringing it up again?

Shang Yan guessed casually: "What, is that Boss Zhao back?"

"No!"

Fang Jingxian sighed, "He was arrested?"

"He committed a crime?" Shang Yan asked suspiciously, "What kind of crime?"

Fang Jingxian shook her head: "I'm not quite sure yet!"

"Then what are you sighing for?"

Fang Jingxian was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to put it.

After a long while, she moved her lips: "Yang Zhigao was also arrested, caught together with that General Manager Zhao. It was only one day apart: the night of the second day, they were both taken in, including the goods—not a single piece was left behind."

"Huh?" Shang Yan was startled, "The second day of the eleventh?"

"What are you talking about? It was the day after we saw that Jade Guanyin Statue!"

Shang Yan was completely stunned and stopped in her tracks.

No matter how little she understood, she at least knew the weight of a "City Association President," not to mention that President Yang had already been re-elected for over a decade.

Arrested just like that? And such a large shop, with so much Jade and Jadeite, confiscated just like that?

And the day before, everything had still been fine?

The key was that it was only one day after they had gone to see the Guanyin Statue...

Subconsciously, Shang Yan looked up.

Not far away, just about a hundred meters, the plaque for the "Ceramic Restoration Studio" reflected the morning light. Involuntarily, the scene of Lin Sicheng standing at the entrance of the Public Security Bureau making a phone call flashed through her mind.

Lin Sicheng certainly didn't have that much power, and neither did Lin Zhangqing.

But what if it was Wang Qi Zhi?

Following Shang Yan's gaze, Fang Jingxian narrowed her eyes: "It was him, wasn't it?"

Shang Yan shook her head: "I don't know!"

"It must be him!"

Fang Jingxian's eyes gradually brightened, "On the third, I called him and said Yang Zhigao had been arrested, and he just gave a light 'Oh, is that so?'"

If it hadn't been him, upon hearing the news, he would have at least been surprised, or perhaps even felt a sense of relief.

But Lin Sicheng's tone that day had been too calm.

And before that, after she suspected Yang Zhigao had set a trap for her, she had even specifically called to warn Lin Sicheng, fearing Yang Zhigao might retaliate.

But Lin Sicheng had been equally calm, only saying one thing: Thank you, General Manager Fang.

So, at that time, he had already known Yang Zhigao was arrested. So, if it wasn't him, who could it be?

But it was only one day later—how much power would that take?

Fang Jingxian's eyes grew brighter and brighter, a glimmer of excitement showing in their depths.

"And then?" Shang Yan turned around, her expression revealing a hint of solemnity, "What do you want to do?"

Fang Jingxian was taken aback, looking astonished: "No... don't be so serious? I'm just curious..."

No, you're not just curious; you've also had a crooked thought.

Ninety-nine out of a hundred people in the antique business walk on the gray areas, so they are extremely lacking in a sense of security. It is precisely because of this that such people love to associate with those in political circles.

The key is that Fang Jingxian just took a big tumble not long ago. And as luck would have it, her backer ran into some trouble and is facing a precarious situation. She is currently in a position where she has nowhere to appeal and no one to turn to.

Suddenly encountering someone like Lin Sicheng is like someone who can't swim falling into a river and suddenly grabbing onto a lifebuoy...

Shang Yan warned sternly: "You had better not have any crooked ideas!"

Why?

Thoughts swirled in Fang Jingxian's mind, and she forced a smile: "I just want to cooperate with him!"

Cooperate?

Shang Yan let out a laugh: "He has the eye, he has the technique, he has the connections, and he has the relationships. What could you possibly cooperate with him on?"

"Or rather, what could you possibly make him covet? Your thirty-seven or thirty-eight-year-old nearly dried-up body, your sagging breasts, or perhaps the wrinkles at the corners of your eyes and the veins in your neck?"

Fang Jingxian's face turned green, and her eyelids twitched "twitch, twitch, twitch": "Shang Yan, you are too disgusting!"

Shang Yan tilted her eyes: "Nonsense, if I don't speak a bit disgustingly, can you get your position straight?"

Fang Jingxian was so angry she bit her teeth together.

Angry as she was, she knew Shang Yan wasn't wrong at all: the two of them had absolutely no basis for cooperation, so how could they cooperate?

But suddenly, Fang Jingxian's eyes lit up again: "Shang Yan, does Lin Sicheng not have a girlfriend yet? How old is he this year, twenty, or twenty-one?"

Shang Yan was suddenly stunned, slowly turning her head to look at her younger sister.

Then, her expression gradually became strange.

Fang Jingxian, oh Fang Jingxian, do you know how to write the word 'death'?

And do you know why that Chairman Yang went in so quickly?

You, on the other hand, are doing everything you can to die quickly.

Shang Yan was already beyond the power to complain.

Just as she was thinking about how to give a reminder, Shang Yan paused.

Not far away, Ye Anning was holding a duster, carefully wiping the car.

The roadside was covered in fallen yellow leaves, and bare willow branches swept across the stone slabs, the sound dry and crisp.

A gust of Wind curled up, bringing a few strands of fragrant breeze, and ruffled a few wisps of dark hair.

Smoothing her hair and seeing Shang Yan, Ye Anning stopped the duster: "Professor Shang!"

"Is Assistant Ye going out?"

"Yes, I'm going out for a trip with Lin Sicheng in a while!"

"Good!" Shang Yan smiled, "Then you go ahead and get busy!"

After exchanging a casual greeting, the group continued walking forward. Fang Jingxian realized belatedly: "Lin Sicheng's girlfriend?"

Shang Yan didn't speak.

Whether she is or not is hard to say, but women are born with a sixth sense: when Ye Anning looks at Lin Sicheng, there is light in the depths of her eyes.

It is not as intense as Li Zhen's, but it is more resolute.

Shang Yan sighed again: "Listen to me, wash up and go to sleep early!"

Fang Jingxian didn't speak, just glanced back.

She is quite pretty, and her temperament is good too.

With these thoughts, the few of them crossed the road and entered the studio.

The office renovation was very ordinary; the walls were painted, the ceiling was painted, and some simple furniture was placed inside.

Lin Sicheng was hunched over behind the computer writing and drawing, and a young man with dark skin was sitting on the sofa.

When Gu Ming stood up, it gave the group a start: he was tall, sturdy, and dark, like an iron tower.

"Professor Shang, General Manager Fang!" Lin Sicheng stood up to introduce, "This is my childhood friend!"

The group sat down one by one, and just as Lin Sicheng was about to brew tea, Li Zhen entered the office wearing a protective apron, wiping her hands.

After greeting them, she took the teapot from Lin Sicheng's hand: "Let me do it!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and turned to fetch the Jade Bi.

The movements were normal, the tone was calm, and as for the person, Fang Jingxian also recognized her and had even met her before.

She knew this was Shang Yan's teaching assistant and also her student.

But she always felt that when Shang Yan's student took the teapot, her gaze was not quite right.

Instinctively, Fang Jingxian looked at Shang Yan; Shang Yan's face darkened, and she sighed lightly again.

Do you know why I told you to wash up and go to sleep?

If there were even a shred of possibility, would it ever be your turn, you surnamed Fang, to harbor crooked thoughts?

As the two were locking eyes, Lin Sicheng took out a wooden box and undid the latch.

The group narrowed their eyes in unison.

The jade quality, as lustrous as congealed fat, radiated a soft, warm light; the delicate texture, like cream or grease, seemed as if it could seep out water marks.

The Jade Bi was round and full in form, its outer edge as perfectly round as a full moon; the surface was carved with Shallow Relief and Openwork Carving techniques to depict an auspicious scene of the Star of Longevity carrying a child, the layout sparse and dense in perfect order, the knife work as fluid as flowing clouds and water.

Looking closer: the Star of Longevity had a long beard hanging to his chest, his forehead high and bulging like a longevity peach, his brows and eyes smiling, kind and approachable. He wore a wide-sleeved robe with natural and Floating folds, his hands holding a celestial peach, his posture respectful yet lively.

The child's face was as round as a lotus, with two buns on his head, lively and innocent. He held a coiled dragon staff, with auspicious clouds swirling at his side and a crane dancing, a scene of a carefree fairyland. His ribbons fluttered with the Wind, and his feet stepped on auspicious grasses and lingzhi, as if he had stepped out from the clouds and mist.

Looking at the patterns: the edge of the Jade Bi was carved with intertwined lotus patterns, the vines winding and continuous, symbolizing "endless life"; interspersed with bats, a homophone for "fortune." The longevity peach signifies "longevity." The lingzhi represents "as you wish."

The four patterns constitute the auspicious omen of "double fortune and longevity." On the ground, there was shallow carving of seawater and cliff patterns, with waves appearing faintly, secretly matching the praise of "longevity as high as the Southern Mountain, fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea."

After looking carefully, her fingers gently touching the warm and moist jade quality, Fang Jingxian's eyes shone: "Yangzhou Craft from the Kangxi and Qianlong Period!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: General Manager Fang's eye is still quite capable.

Turning it over to look at the "Southern Mountain Star of Longevity" mark on the back, Fang Jingxian tilted her head and thought: "Although it is not from the imperial jade workshop, it must be by a famous master."

The key is: the Jade Bi takes the "Star of Longevity and Child" as its core, gathering the triple blessings of longevity (Star of Longevity), many children (child), and wealth (White Jade) into one; it is both a heavy ritual vessel for ancient nobles to celebrate birthdays, and it also embodies the secular vision of "harmony between heaven and man, and prosperous descendants."

Moreover, the Jade Bi is flawless throughout, the carving and the jade quality complementing each other, worthy of being called a model of "jade must have craft, craft must have meaning, and meaning must be auspicious."

To be honest, if she had encountered this thing earlier, why would she have lost four million to buy a fake Xuande Incense Burner, and then almost been set up by Yang Zhigao, losing several more million to buy a fake Buddha statue?

Secretly delighted, she let out a breath: "Four million!"

Lin Sicheng's eyelids twitched: "How much?"

You haven't even asked who carved it, yet you dare to offer four million?

"Ah, is it too low?"

Fang Jingxian raised her head, just about to say something, when she was interrupted by a wave of Lin Sicheng's hand: "General Manager Fang, this was carved by Zhou Hao, and it is not an Imperial Palace Ware, so please name your price properly!"

"Oh, carved by Zhou Hao?" Fang Jingxian did not doubt it at all; instead, she liked it even more. She pondered for a moment, "Then three million!"

Lin Sicheng didn't know what to say: "It really doesn't need to be that high, one million six hundred thousand, you take it!"

Fang Jingxian shook her head repeatedly: "Isn't that too low?"

Lin Sicheng also shook his head: "Not low!"

The two of them, one raising and one lowering, left the others looking completely bewildered.

Having lived this long, they had never seen such bargaining: the seller thinks the price is too high, and the buyer thinks the price is too low?

Several people blinked their eyes, glancing left and right.

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment and emphasized again: "General Manager Fang, let's stick to the matter at hand: whether it was the Buddha statue last time or the Guanyin, you paid the appraisal fee, so it is only right and proper that I do my best. Therefore, today we only talk about the Jade Bi!"

Fang Jingxian was silent.

The logic was indeed as he said, but sometimes, accounts are not calculated that way: at first glance, even if she had been deceived by Yang Zhigao, the loss would only be a few million.

But the problem is, if she gives away a fake Buddha statue or a fake Guanyin, what if the person receiving the gift discovers it one day?

The loss would be far more than ten times four million.

Furthermore, even if it were just a transaction for an ordinary object, selling this Jade Bi for only one million six hundred thousand was definitely giving face to Shang Yan and doing a favor.

Moreover, she was in such a hurry to get it?

Subconsciously, Fang Jingxian recalled the scene at the mall last time: "General Manager Fang, what kind of object are you looking for?"

"A birthday gift, I need a birthday gift... any price is fine!"

Based on that one sentence alone, if it were anyone else, they shouldn't even think about getting this jade for less than three million.

Really, in this society, such people are rarer than giant pandas...

In a flash of thought, there was a slight movement underfoot; Shang Yan nudged the tip of Fang Jingxian's shoe with her own.

Fang Jingxian didn't move, as if she hadn't felt it.

Shang Yan snorted coldly and stated it directly: "One million eight hundred thousand, otherwise don't buy it!"

Fang Jingxian gritted her teeth: You surnamed Shang, what do you know?

Do you think I offered such a high price because I wanted to build a connection with him?

There is no connection at all; Fang Jingxian was just acting out of gratitude.

But since things had reached this point...

Fang Jingxian nodded, and Fang Jingshu took out a laptop and plugged in a security token to transfer the money on the spot.

The process was very fast, taking about two minutes in total.

Lin Sicheng packed up the Jade Bi, chatted for a while longer, and saw them out the door.

The sun gradually rose higher; the Wind was gentle and the day was beautiful.

Fang Jingxian smoothed the hair by her ear and smiled again: "Student Lin, I might have to trouble you again in a few days; please help me look at two more pieces of Jade."

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "I don't think I'll have much time!"

Not much time?

Fang Jingxian pondered for a good while before confirming that Lin Sicheng was likely truly busy, rather than making excuses.

"It doesn't matter, then we'll wait until you have time to look at them!"

Lin Sicheng did not decline: "Okay!"

Both sides said goodbye, and the group walked outward carrying their things. After walking nearly a hundred meters, Shang Yan looked suspicious: "When did you look at more Jade, how come I don't know about it?"

Fang Jingxian paused: "I haven't looked yet!"

Shang Yan was stunned, taking a long while to react.

It wasn't just that she hadn't looked yet; there wasn't even a shadow of the items.

Fang Jingxian, you've really done it: racking your brains and going to such lengths?

Just as she was about to say something, Fang Jingxian sighed: "Even if it's just as a client, don't you feel that as long as you do business with him, even if you earn a little less, you feel very at ease?"

Nonsense, because he doesn't cheat people. And he absolutely never earns money he shouldn't earn.

Just like today: if it were anyone else, Fang Jingxian shouldn't even think about getting this piece of jade for less than two times one million eight hundred thousand.

Shang Yan said nothing more, and the group walked along the tree-lined path. As they neared the school gate, Shang Yan suddenly stopped.

Knowing she had something to say, Fang Jingxian also stopped: "What do you want to say!"

"Just a reminder!" Shang Yan sighed softly, "The benevolent love others; restrain yourself and return to propriety; the superior man understands righteousness, while the petty man understands profit."

"A superior man can be deceived by his own uprightness, but his few friends are not superior men, and his teacher is even less so, so you must not harm yourself!"

Fang Jingxian was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but laugh: "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"It is, really, believe me!"

Shang Yan nodded solemnly, "Normal interaction is of course no problem, whether it's asking him for an appraisal, wanting to buy something from him, or wanting to sell something to him, all are fine.

After asking him for a favor, having a meal, a drink, and chatting is even more fine. Over time, becoming friends will just be a natural outcome. But anything else, you should try to hold back!"

Just like Yang Zhigao, who perhaps only slightly harbored the thought of wanting to retaliate against Lin Sicheng, and was crushed by Wang Qi Zhi with thunderous force, unable to ever recover in this lifetime.

And there is the one who sold the Gold Craftsmanship, that General Manager Sun who had the gold filigree crown bought by Lin Sicheng, who just happened to see the situation quickly. Otherwise, it's hard to say if he would be the second Yang Zhigao.

Even for someone like Fang Jingxian, it wouldn't even be Wang Qi Zhi's turn to act.

Don't look at how Hao Jun and Guan Xingmin appear gentle and are exceptionally polite to everyone. But they aren't pushovers, and they wouldn't play around with Wang Qi Zhi.

"Put your heart at ease, I'm not a newcomer to society, am I?"

Shang Yan nodded: "Let's hope so!"

"Tap-tap-tap-tap~"

Lin Sicheng tapped his phone incessantly, and immediately, Gu Ming's phone buzzed twice.

He glanced at it subconsciously, his eyes bulging: "Two hundred thousand... is your money burning a hole in your pocket?"

"If it were your money, do you think I wouldn't pay it back?"

Lin Sicheng hadn't calculated exactly how much money Gu Ming had fronted in Hangzhou, but it was definitely sixteen or seventeen thousand.

Moreover, he had taken risks and run around for him, so he couldn't let him work for nothing.

But he couldn't give him too much; this dog of a guy had the kind of personality that "gets Floating once he has money." If he gave him too much, heaven knows what kind of trouble he would stir up.

After arguing for a long time without winning, Gu Ming had to tearfully accept thirty thousand.

He put away his phone and suddenly remembered: "That General Manager Fang offered four million, why did you want to push it down?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Because that jade piece is worth at most one million six or seven hundred thousand!"

"But she was willing to pay it, right?"

"Nonsense, there are people who carry money to your house, asking Gu Shu to secretly let people go; did your dad let them go?"

Gu Ming froze, his lips twitching, but he couldn't say a word.

Li Xinfang's dad, wasn't that exactly the case?

Beating around the bush, trying every possible way to give gifts to Lin Sicheng; he had been sending them for almost a month, and still hadn't managed to give them away...

He sighed again: "You aren't like my dad, are you? Two million, without having to take any risks, can you really resist that?"

Lin Sicheng was too lazy to explain: the trouble brought on by two million might not even be resolved with the energy it takes to earn three times two million.

Thinking to himself, he stood up: "Let's go!"

"Go where?"

"Take you to learn a lesson!"

Gu Ming was stunned for a moment, then remembered: when they were in Hangzhou, he had been green with envy. Lin Sicheng said that after they got back, he must let him receive some ideological education so he would know what it means to be: greedy and insatiable, leading to the ruin of one's family.

"Are we going to prison?"

Lin Sicheng didn't speak: how could prison be enough?

It was best to give him enough intensity all at once, to save him from having a brain fart one day and stepping into a huge pit.

"Let's go!" He waved his hand, "Where is the car?"

Gu Ming picked up the keys: "Outside the school gate!"

"Oh right, I forgot to ask you, how did you drive the car in that time during the October holiday?"

"I said I was delivering materials for Artifact Research, reported my godfather's phone number, and bought two packs of cigarettes for each of the two guards!"

"Just to look at the long legs of the female students, right? Gu Ming kid, you're something else, aren't you?"

Lin Sicheng kept a straight face, "If there's a next time, I'll smash your mouth crooked!"

Gu Ming didn't make a sound.

Lin Sicheng certainly couldn't beat him in a fight, but this dog of a guy would tattle, and every time he tattled, it was spot on.

Even if he made it up, Old Gu would believe it implicitly, and then when he got home, without asking about right or wrong, he would give him a fierce beating first.

And from childhood to adulthood, Gu Ming had suffered so many such unjust beatings that he couldn't even count them himself...

Lin Sicheng nagged again: "Now that you're dating, keep your impulses in check. Delete what needs to be deleted from your phone, and don't contact them in the future. Otherwise, if Li Xinfang finds out, how will you make up an excuse?"

Gu Ming curled his lip: acting like you know so much?

You should finish dealing with the one in the studio and the one who calls you cousin first.

Muttering to himself, the two of them left the office.

Just as they stepped over the threshold, the Jeep Grand Cherokee slowly drove over and stopped at the entrance.

The car window rolled down, and Ye Anning smiled: "Where to?"

Lin Sicheng was startled: "You aren't at work?"

"I was supposed to go, but Uncle said I should go and experience it too!"

Lin Sicheng was silent.

Last night, he had just casually mentioned to Wang Qi Zhi that he and Gu Ming were going out today, and gave a rough explanation.

Wang Qi Zhi had said: let Ye Anning go and experience it too...

Lin Sicheng nodded and sat in the front row, while Gu Ming sat in the back.

Ye Anning started the car and glanced through the rearview mirror: "Gu Ming, when you went to Hangzhou, where did you all go to play?"

Huh, you don't ask Lin Sicheng, you ask me?

At first, Gu Ming didn't react, but in a daze, it felt like he had returned to the day he first met Ye Anning?

He felt a bit uncomfortable, but he couldn't say where the discomfort came from.

No... Cousin Ye, are you a police dog by nature?

Yes, I am playful, and I don't have much focus, and sometimes I'm not very reliable, always thinking about doing bad things with Lin Sicheng.

But to say "Gu Ming leads Lin Sicheng astray," if that were said back home, the five adults in the two families would laugh their teeth out.

And that person in the studio looks at Lin Sicheng with eyes that are practically stringing together, why don't you manage that? It can't be that my threat is greater than that one?

The more Gu Ming thought about it, the more depressed he became, but he didn't dare to quibble, and even less did he dare to lie.

Because when they were in Hangzhou, he had indeed encouraged Lin Sicheng: since you've come to Hangzhou, how can you not check out the famous "Project 891 (the largest underground nightclub in Jiangnan, converted from an air-raid shelter, with special performances)"?

However, Lin Sicheng didn't like to play like that, and he was always busy, so they didn't end up going.

But then again: is Cousin Ye able to divine the future, or did she smell something, otherwise why ask as soon as she got in the car?

Why not ask Lin Sicheng, instead of asking yourself?

Not to mention how powerful his aura is, just look at how sharp his eyes must be?

Turning these thoughts over, he replied gloomily: "Lin Sicheng is too busy, he hasn't gone anywhere!"

Lin Sicheng sighed: "Gu Ming, you child, I really give up on you."

She is bluffing you.

And you, you just confess as soon as you're bluffed?